I know what you're thinking, here comes another arbitrary and subjective "top ten" list. And, well, you're exactly right. But this one's got a theme. Over the next few months, I'll be posting some blog entries, entitled State Writes, focusing on the best of the best in American music (all according to the Hoss, of course).
I encourage all to hit up the comment section below.
In the first installment of State Writes, we're journeying to the Lone Star State for some whiskey, jumbo shrimp, and breakfast burritos. Wait a second...mind got off topic there. Anyway, let's take a look at the best of what Texas has given the world of music, from pedal steel to post-punk.
10. ZZ Top
Hometown: Houston, TX
Best known for their choppers, golf hats, beards, and the riff-riffic tune "La Grange", ZZ Top has been one of America's most dependable blues-rock outfits, with the original trio of Gibbons, Hill, and Beard staying together from their 1970 incarnation through present. Guitarist Billy Gibbons has established himself as one of the greatest blues guitarist of the genre, leaving an obvious mark on such bands as Van Halen and the Meat Puppets. The band is currently in the studio with Rick Rubin so keep an ear out for more good stuff to come.
Check out: "I Thank You"
9. Ben Kweller
Hometown: Greenville, TX
Kweller's career got off to a fast star at a young age, as he fronted Greenville, TX's most popular pre-pube rockers, Radish, who would gain popularity in Europe and Australia before the band could legally drive automobiles. Kweller's solo career showed even more maturity and promise with 2002's mall-pop release Sha Sha, where Kweller proved he could be an effective young singer-songwriter. Kweller's latest releases, On My Way and the self-titled Ben Kweller show an artist growing musically, but we're still not sure about that chest hair. Looking forward to hearing more from Kweller in the future, with rumblings of an alt-country focused release in 2009 (Yes, please).
Check out: "In Other Words"
Hometown: Greenville, TX
Kweller's career got off to a fast star at a young age, as he fronted Greenville, TX's most popular pre-pube rockers, Radish, who would gain popularity in Europe and Australia before the band could legally drive automobiles. Kweller's solo career showed even more maturity and promise with 2002's mall-pop release Sha Sha, where Kweller proved he could be an effective young singer-songwriter. Kweller's latest releases, On My Way and the self-titled Ben Kweller show an artist growing musically, but we're still not sure about that chest hair. Looking forward to hearing more from Kweller in the future, with rumblings of an alt-country focused release in 2009 (Yes, please).
Check out: "In Other Words"
8. Stevie Ray Vaughn
Hometown: Dallas, TX
What is a list about Texas music without the mention of Steve Ray Vaughn? After moving from his hometown of Dallas to the vibrant Austin music scene to form Double Trouble in the early '80s, SRV and Co. quickly signed to Epic Records. With fans such as David Bowie, Jackson Browne, Keith Richards, and Mick Jagger, 1983's Texas Flood marked a new page in the growing tradition of Texas blues. A few mediocre albums later, Vaughn was struggling to kick his whiskey and cocaine habits. Ultimately beating the odds and his addictions, Vaughn tragically died in a helicopter crash in 1990.
Hometown: Dallas, TX
What is a list about Texas music without the mention of Steve Ray Vaughn? After moving from his hometown of Dallas to the vibrant Austin music scene to form Double Trouble in the early '80s, SRV and Co. quickly signed to Epic Records. With fans such as David Bowie, Jackson Browne, Keith Richards, and Mick Jagger, 1983's Texas Flood marked a new page in the growing tradition of Texas blues. A few mediocre albums later, Vaughn was struggling to kick his whiskey and cocaine habits. Ultimately beating the odds and his addictions, Vaughn tragically died in a helicopter crash in 1990.
Check out: “Pride and Joy”
7. Butthole Surfers
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Before Wayne Coyne was popping balloons while Juliette Lewis was making that stupid smirk in the audience, San Antonio avant-gards the Butthole Surfers were burning cymbals, disturbing film backgrounds, with a naked Kathleen Lynch on stage . Known for more of their stage show than their brand of psychedelic noise-rock, Butthole Surfers were some of the 1980's greatest underground pioneers. You can always depend on 1996's Electriclarryland, but check out 1988's Hairway to Steven if you're itching for something new.
Check out: "Pepper"
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Before Wayne Coyne was popping balloons while Juliette Lewis was making that stupid smirk in the audience, San Antonio avant-gards the Butthole Surfers were burning cymbals, disturbing film backgrounds, with a naked Kathleen Lynch on stage . Known for more of their stage show than their brand of psychedelic noise-rock, Butthole Surfers were some of the 1980's greatest underground pioneers. You can always depend on 1996's Electriclarryland, but check out 1988's Hairway to Steven if you're itching for something new.
Check out: "Pepper"
6. Old 97’s
Hometown: Dallas, TX
If I had a dime every time I heard Rhet Miller’s specious voice on some NPR interview or for every time I saw his boyish and sorrowful face on the shelves of the Starbucks music section, I’d be listening to Wreck Your Life in my Gold Coast flat. But, I’d still be listening to them. The above mentioned, along with 2001’s Satellite Rides, are about as fun as it gets in the land of flannel and corduroy. Backed by a great rhythm section, Miller is a brilliant wordsmith and the band’s ¾ love ballads are as good as it gets. Best heard through Fender tubes while gulping down LoneStar beers. Man, I love this band!
Hometown: Dallas, TX
If I had a dime every time I heard Rhet Miller’s specious voice on some NPR interview or for every time I saw his boyish and sorrowful face on the shelves of the Starbucks music section, I’d be listening to Wreck Your Life in my Gold Coast flat. But, I’d still be listening to them. The above mentioned, along with 2001’s Satellite Rides, are about as fun as it gets in the land of flannel and corduroy. Backed by a great rhythm section, Miller is a brilliant wordsmith and the band’s ¾ love ballads are as good as it gets. Best heard through Fender tubes while gulping down LoneStar beers. Man, I love this band!
Check out: “Buick City Complex”
5. Okkervil River
Hometown: Austin, TX
No, despite his looks Will Sheff does not have down syndrome. However, his songwriting contains brilliant savant like abilities. He is as good as it gets when it comes to writing songs, and not too bad live either. These Austin via New Hampshire lit-rockers Okkervil River are the cream of the crop when it comes to relevant songwriting. Frontman Will Sheff's blends a mix of heart-on-your sleeve love-lusters while injecting a cerebral Daniel Johnston-like quality to OR's music. With a backing band which has blown away the likes of Lou Reed, and five stellar albums to date, this band isn't going anywhere. And neither is Will's annoying self-loathing stage banter.
Check out: "So Come Back I Am Waiting"
Hometown: Austin, TX
No, despite his looks Will Sheff does not have down syndrome. However, his songwriting contains brilliant savant like abilities. He is as good as it gets when it comes to writing songs, and not too bad live either. These Austin via New Hampshire lit-rockers Okkervil River are the cream of the crop when it comes to relevant songwriting. Frontman Will Sheff's blends a mix of heart-on-your sleeve love-lusters while injecting a cerebral Daniel Johnston-like quality to OR's music. With a backing band which has blown away the likes of Lou Reed, and five stellar albums to date, this band isn't going anywhere. And neither is Will's annoying self-loathing stage banter.
Check out: "So Come Back I Am Waiting"
4. Roy Orbison
Hometown: Vernon, TX
Lacking the stage persona and the good looks of many of his era, Orbison made as much of a mark on the country-rock and the rockabilly genre than any before him. With his baritone voice and black shades, Orbison crafted a unique lonely-lover sound that is often replicated. His dark and haunting melodies would go on to heavily influence Chris Isaac, as well as those from the Beach Boys to the Boss to Bono. With rising popularity overseas and a stint in the supergroup Traveling Wilbury's, Orbison left us after a heart attack in 1988.
Check out: "You Got It"
Hometown: Vernon, TX
Lacking the stage persona and the good looks of many of his era, Orbison made as much of a mark on the country-rock and the rockabilly genre than any before him. With his baritone voice and black shades, Orbison crafted a unique lonely-lover sound that is often replicated. His dark and haunting melodies would go on to heavily influence Chris Isaac, as well as those from the Beach Boys to the Boss to Bono. With rising popularity overseas and a stint in the supergroup Traveling Wilbury's, Orbison left us after a heart attack in 1988.
Check out: "You Got It"
3. Spoon
Hometown: Austin, TX
This band has been at it fifteen years and they only seem to get better with age. Frontman Britt Daniel dishes out jagged and addictive guitar lines while drummer Jim Eno has a nice balance of stop-start and dance rhythms to give Spoon a sound that makes them more than just a Pixies derivative. With the help of an Acura commercial and one-too-many magazine covers with Britt Daniel wearing those stupid glasses, we are recently facing a bit of a Spoon-over exposure. Still, nothing changes the fact that from 1996's Telephono EP to last year's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, this band hasn't lost a step, and maybe even picked up some hotter chicks on the way. Kudos to you, Britt!
Check out: "Lines In The Suit"
Hometown: Austin, TX
This band has been at it fifteen years and they only seem to get better with age. Frontman Britt Daniel dishes out jagged and addictive guitar lines while drummer Jim Eno has a nice balance of stop-start and dance rhythms to give Spoon a sound that makes them more than just a Pixies derivative. With the help of an Acura commercial and one-too-many magazine covers with Britt Daniel wearing those stupid glasses, we are recently facing a bit of a Spoon-over exposure. Still, nothing changes the fact that from 1996's Telephono EP to last year's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, this band hasn't lost a step, and maybe even picked up some hotter chicks on the way. Kudos to you, Britt!
Check out: "Lines In The Suit"
2. Blind Lemon Jefferson
Hometown: Coutchman, TX
I can't say I spent my formative years sitting around angstfully cranking the sounds of Blind Lemon Jefferson, but music owes a great debt to the father of Texas blues. Best known for his high pitched vocal arrangements, it is his precise and original guitar work which would go on to influence such blues-rockers as B.B. King and the White Stripes. The son of sharecroppers, Jefferson spent much of his 1920's youth writing and playing in the eclectic Deep Ellum section of Dallas with legends such as Leadbelly and T-Bone Walker. And you thought Seattle circa '91 was gritty?
Check out: "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean"
Hometown: Coutchman, TX
I can't say I spent my formative years sitting around angstfully cranking the sounds of Blind Lemon Jefferson, but music owes a great debt to the father of Texas blues. Best known for his high pitched vocal arrangements, it is his precise and original guitar work which would go on to influence such blues-rockers as B.B. King and the White Stripes. The son of sharecroppers, Jefferson spent much of his 1920's youth writing and playing in the eclectic Deep Ellum section of Dallas with legends such as Leadbelly and T-Bone Walker. And you thought Seattle circa '91 was gritty?
Check out: "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean"
1. Buddy Holly
Hometown: Lubbock, TX
Along with Chuck Berry, Holly is one of the pioneers of rock 'n roll. With his unique hiccup-style vocal delivery and timeless boy-loves-girl harmonies, it is not often that pop music nails it the way Holly does on "Peggy Sue" or "Everyday". Inspiring generations of misfit-dorks and dead-beat professors to feel confident about wearing glasses, Holly certainly made his mark on the world before he left us at a young age. John, Paul, George, Ringo, along with Keith & Mic would agree with me on this one, it does not get any better than Buddy Holly. He is Texas' finest son.
Check out: "Not Fade Away"
Hometown: Lubbock, TX
Along with Chuck Berry, Holly is one of the pioneers of rock 'n roll. With his unique hiccup-style vocal delivery and timeless boy-loves-girl harmonies, it is not often that pop music nails it the way Holly does on "Peggy Sue" or "Everyday". Inspiring generations of misfit-dorks and dead-beat professors to feel confident about wearing glasses, Holly certainly made his mark on the world before he left us at a young age. John, Paul, George, Ringo, along with Keith & Mic would agree with me on this one, it does not get any better than Buddy Holly. He is Texas' finest son.
Check out: "Not Fade Away"
HM: Lyle Lovett (Klein), Explosions In The Sky (Austin), Janis Joplin (Port Arthur), The Secret Machines (Dallas), Don Henley (Linden), Toadies (Fort Worth), C-Note (Houston), ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead (Austin)
- HOSS
I don't Matt Steele is going to like the fact that you left out Pantera
ReplyDeleteI find it hard to believe that artists such as Ben Kweller and Okkervil River rank ahead of one of America's greatest rock bands ZZ Top. Choose any of the songs by the aforementioned artists and compare them to ZZ's "Just Got Paid." If you can tell me with a straight face that song "x" is better than "Paid" I'll eat my hat right there and then.
ReplyDelete